The Weekly Dvar Torah
Volume 2 Issue #17
Mitzvot: Not a Private Affair
Mishpatim
Adapted from the wisdom of Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk from the Meshech Chochmoh and Rav Tzadok HaCohen from Pri Tzadik and other works.
By Rav Yitzchak Schwartz Rosh Yeshiva Orchos Chaim Jerusalem
yschwartz@orchos.org.
This publication, Zichron Yehoshua, is in memory of Yehoshua Yakov ben Moshe-Jeffrey Nussbaum through a generous grant from Dr. Eric Nussbaum and family.
This issue is dedicated to my daughter and new son in-law on the occasion of their marriage that took place Monday night the 24th of Shevat, may Hashem bless them with all that is good.
“And Moses came and told the people all the words of Hashem, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said: 'All the words which Hashem hath spoken we will do.†(Shemot 24,3)
In the Meshech Chochma, Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk explains that in this verse, the Jewish people proclaimed their commitment to uphold all of the words and ordinances of Hashem. They emphasized that all of Hashem’s laws were included in their vow; the mitzvoth that deal with the relationship between man and G-d and the civil laws of the Torah that govern interpersonal affairs. This holy oath is the halachic basis for the obligation of the descendants of these illustrious ancestors to fulfill the laws of Torah in every generation. The beit din of every generation is charged with the duty to enforce this obligation.
Similarly, the gentiles are compelled to uphold the seven commandments that apply specifically to them, often referred to as the Noahide laws. These laws govern the basic fundamentals of human decency, ethical and moral behavior. Here too, the court system is charged with the obligation to enforce these laws. The reason that these laws are compulsory is due to their universal and timeless nature. Without an assurance of their fulfillment, man and society is doomed to failure.
At first glance, the mitzvot that deal with our relationship with Hashem seem to be of a different nature. Since they govern our relationship with Hashem, it appears to be unsuitable for a court to interfere with a person’s private affairs. If a person desires to have a positive relationship with Hashem he must fulfill all of His mitzvot. If not, he should be allowed to conduct himself according to his own freewill since by ignoring the mitzvoth he harms no one other than himself. A deeper perspective reveals the fault in this reasoning.
When the Jewish people accepted the Torah, they proclaimed their eternal allegiance to Hashem. In addition to this, on more than one occasion they made public declarations of their communal responsibility to carry out all of Hashem’s commandments. This declaration is referred to in the Talmud as “kol Yisrael areivim zeh l’zeh†– all of the Jewish people are guarantors for each other. As result of this declaration, the destiny of each and every Jew is eternally bound together.
Hashem designated the Jewish people as His chosen folk. This is not only a great honor, but carries with it exclusive obligations – the fulfillment of all of Hashem’s commandments. The essence of the Jewish people as an interdependent collective body (through the declaration of areivim zeh l’zeh) inextricably links our national destiny with the fulfillment of all of Hashem’s commandments by every Jewish man and woman in every generation. No Jewish man or woman can claim that his or her relationship with Hashem is a private affair. Neglect of any mitzvah by any Jew detracts and obstructs the blessings of our collective destiny as a “Light to the gentiles†and a “kingdom of priests and a holy nationâ€
By Rav Yitzchak Schwartz Rosh Yeshiva Orchos Chaim Jerusalem
yschwartz@orchos.org.
This publication, Zichron Yehoshua, is in memory of Yehoshua Yakov ben Moshe-Jeffrey Nussbaum through a generous grant from Dr. Eric Nussbaum and family.
This issue is dedicated to my daughter and new son in-law on the occasion of their marriage that took place Monday night the 24th of Shevat, may Hashem bless them with all that is good.
“And Moses came and told the people all the words of Hashem, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said: 'All the words which Hashem hath spoken we will do.†(Shemot 24,3)
In the Meshech Chochma, Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk explains that in this verse, the Jewish people proclaimed their commitment to uphold all of the words and ordinances of Hashem. They emphasized that all of Hashem’s laws were included in their vow; the mitzvoth that deal with the relationship between man and G-d and the civil laws of the Torah that govern interpersonal affairs. This holy oath is the halachic basis for the obligation of the descendants of these illustrious ancestors to fulfill the laws of Torah in every generation. The beit din of every generation is charged with the duty to enforce this obligation.
Similarly, the gentiles are compelled to uphold the seven commandments that apply specifically to them, often referred to as the Noahide laws. These laws govern the basic fundamentals of human decency, ethical and moral behavior. Here too, the court system is charged with the obligation to enforce these laws. The reason that these laws are compulsory is due to their universal and timeless nature. Without an assurance of their fulfillment, man and society is doomed to failure.
At first glance, the mitzvot that deal with our relationship with Hashem seem to be of a different nature. Since they govern our relationship with Hashem, it appears to be unsuitable for a court to interfere with a person’s private affairs. If a person desires to have a positive relationship with Hashem he must fulfill all of His mitzvot. If not, he should be allowed to conduct himself according to his own freewill since by ignoring the mitzvoth he harms no one other than himself. A deeper perspective reveals the fault in this reasoning.
When the Jewish people accepted the Torah, they proclaimed their eternal allegiance to Hashem. In addition to this, on more than one occasion they made public declarations of their communal responsibility to carry out all of Hashem’s commandments. This declaration is referred to in the Talmud as “kol Yisrael areivim zeh l’zeh†– all of the Jewish people are guarantors for each other. As result of this declaration, the destiny of each and every Jew is eternally bound together.
Hashem designated the Jewish people as His chosen folk. This is not only a great honor, but carries with it exclusive obligations – the fulfillment of all of Hashem’s commandments. The essence of the Jewish people as an interdependent collective body (through the declaration of areivim zeh l’zeh) inextricably links our national destiny with the fulfillment of all of Hashem’s commandments by every Jewish man and woman in every generation. No Jewish man or woman can claim that his or her relationship with Hashem is a private affair. Neglect of any mitzvah by any Jew detracts and obstructs the blessings of our collective destiny as a “Light to the gentiles†and a “kingdom of priests and a holy nationâ€